I don’t know how many different versions of Phoenix’s Lisztomania anyone can stand anymore, but when you get female vocalist Jane Hanley and Edwin Van Cleef in the mix it re-invents the track in the same way Aeroplane did for Friendly Fires with ‘Paris‘… Remember that gem?

Edwin Van Cleef – Lisztomania (feat. Jane Hanley) (320)

Aeroplane ft. Flight Facilities – I Crave Paris (320)

Fabien Constant & Loïc Prigent have directed the latest fashion battle for the new Kitsuné fashion line for Fall-Winter of 2011. It features models Julian and Nane racing to put on their next outfit in a battle that rewards the winner with a kiss on the cheek. All tracks featured in the video will be featured on Kitsuné Maison 11 “The Indie-Dance Issue”, released on May 16th 2011.

Tracks featured on the video:

Is Tropical – The Greeks (320)

Polarsets – Sunshine Eyes (128)

Find the Channel Swimmers remix of Polarsets here
Listen to Peter & The Magician – The Twist here

Pacific! feat. El Perro Del Mar – Unspoken (Moonlight Matters remix) by Moonlight Matters

Some may have read about the upcoming sounds from the collaboration between Yuksek and The Magician. Cleverly titled Peter & The Magician we are expecting a full EP release from the duo in the coming months. Kitsuné have organised to have their first track ‘The Twist‘ on ‘Maison 11 – The Indie-Dance Issue‘ which also features Polarsets, Creep, Is Tropical and more. The compilation is due out May 16.

The Twist – Peter & The Magician by Max Smart

TRACKLIST:

01. “Let’s Go All The Way” (Early Version)
02. Alexander Dexter Jones – “Phantastic Phone Call”
03. Housse De Racket – “Roman”
04. Polarsets: “Sunshine Eyes”
05. Gallops: “Miami Spider” (Ponciau edit)
06. Cosmonaut – “Say What You Want”
07. Creep – “Days” (Azari & III Remix)
08. Is Tropical – “The Greeks”
09. Peter & The Magician – “Twist”
10. The Touch – “Sermon”
11. Logo x Icona Pop – “Luvsick”
12. Beat Connection – “Silver Screen”
13. Nightbox – “Pyramid”
14. Guards – “Resolution Of One”
15. Fiction – “Big Things”
16. Exotica – “Conte d’Eté” (Afrofunk Version)

Local lads, Strange Talk were always a band that I had been meaning to write about for some time now. Taking notice of them just after the new year and thinking how cool their band name was, Strange Talk made a lot of noise over the blogs with their first single ‘Climbing Walls‘. Now, only having just released their debut EP and their second single ‘Eskimo Boy‘, Strange Talk are about to embark on a national tour in support of their new release. Delivering pop hooks with such sharp and utter precision, the Melbourne group, who can be filed somewhere between Fenech-Soler and Phoenix, are sure to be one of those bands to watch for in 2011. Grab your copy of their EP here.

Strange Talk – Climbing Walls (192)

It was another sad week in music, T.V On The Radio have announced the death of band menber Gerard Smith. This was taken from their site.

“We are very sad to announce the death of our beloved friend and bandmate, Gerard Smith, following a courageous fight against lung cancer. Gerard passed away the morning of April 20th, 2011. We will miss him terribly.”

Unfortunately the following shows have been cancelled:

April 20 St. Andrew Halls, Detroit MI

April 22 Metro, Chicago IL

April 23 First Ave, Minneapolis MN

April 24 First Ave, Minneapolis MN

April 26 Ogden, Denver CO

FROMAGE DISCO AND COSMOLOGY PRESENT: RED RACK’EM

Easter Thursday give you a perfect chance to kick off the long weekend with a bang when Fromage Disco & Cosmology team up to present Red Rack Em/Hot Coins at The Workshop, and its FREE!

Originally from Nottingham, now Berlin based DJ/Producer Danny Berman (aka Red Rack’em/Hot Coins) has had a pretty hectic couple of years. He has performed at the Radio 1 Worldwide Awards, Snowbombing, Garden Festival, Glastonbury and The Big Chill as well as releasing massive house and disco records on record labels including Tirk, Untracked, Home Taping and Undertones. He has remixed The Revenge, Ron Basejam, Tricky, and his edit of the Larry Levan Classic – Jourbert Singers “Stand on the Word” was an inspired rework of a track many thought untouchable. All this has led to heavy support; most notably from Gilles Peterson, describing Rack’em as ‘not being able to put a foot wrong right now;’ as well as Greg Wilson, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Prins Thomas, Todd Terje, and Unabombers. His Smugglers Inn radio show/podcast also regularly pulls in thousands of listeners around the globe with upfront selections and guestmixes. Danny has now launched his own label Bergerac and October saw the release of his critically acclaimed debut album ‘The Early Years’, a mix of deep house, disco, beatdown and electro boogie. The first single on Bergerac ‘How I Program’ has gone down as a bit of techno classic. 2011 looks like an even busier year with more Bergerac singles on the way, the long awaited Hot Coins album and the launch of a vinyl only label ‘Nettles.’ Warm up to be provided by local house hero Francis Inferno Orchestra, fresh from dropping releases on many of the world’s hottest house labels such as Under The Shade, Wolf Music, and Sleazy Beats.

NEW GUERNICA: SHIT ROBOT (DFA)

On Easter Thursday we’re throwing a party here at Guerns that’s going to be a smashing good time, like Greeks amusing themselves with those painted red eggs. One of the Big Apples finest, Shit Robot, is flying over for his Australian tour of duty and getting up behind the battered old organ. This DFA Records alumni’s real name is Marcus and he started his career running an infamous night in New York with his best bud and Mr. LCD Soundsystem himself James Murphy (even before Jimmy helped design a career for the Rapture). After being a fixture on New Yorks club scene for at least a decade of destruction he fled for the German country side, the quiet life, where he emerged in 2010 with his debut Long Player From The Cradle to the Rave. It was a contemporary take on all things Kraftwerk’s inspired wonky house that pushed twisted analog keys and roller skate rink bass-lines onto clubbers around the globe, making many top ten record lists. Ps: don’t let the pseudonym fool you, when it comes to being a robot as such, he’s “shit balls” evil twisted good; like Dalek alien robots in old Doctor Who episodes. With support on the evening from locals Post-Percy, Otologoic, Andee Frost.

Doors $20

DOROTHY & OASIS PRESENT: RAISETH THE ROOF

Dorothy the little tramp is back and this time she brought a long a friend, Oasis and together they will be throwing one BIBLICAL PARTY to get all the naughty sinning out of your system before you attend church/fast pray and repent…

The 1st lineup announcement is one even JESUS would be impressed with!

The Bang Gang Disciples will be playing the disco organs on Cloud 9 with mega duo Trumpdisco to crucify you all in the Basement Of Hell.

The Limbo level will showcase a number of live acts headlined by Loon Lake who’s single ‘In The Summer’ has been has been smashing high rotation on Triple J.

✞ HUGE DRINK SPECIALS ALL NIGHT LONG ON ALL 4 LEVELS ✞

✞ ACTS ✞
• THEE BANG GANG (Bang Gang 12′)
• TRUMPDISCO (COMMON TROLLS)
• DEACON ROSE (TRIPLE J)
• GENERIK (#Tourofcool)
• JASPER (COMMON TROLLS)
• AIRWOLF
• KRAYMER (IDIOT HOUSE RECORDS)
• DOLLARS

✞ PLUS LIVE BANDS ✞
• Loon Lake
• Willowan Lights
• The People
• Superjuce
• Laughing Waters

✞ PLUS ALL YOUR LOVED LOCAL DJ’S ✞
•CNUTS • POPACAP • ZAYLER • BUDDY & RUBY • JAY WESLEY • JERRY ATTRIC • GROUND ZERO • INDIAN SUMMER DJ’S • CASINO • BREAKFAST CLUB DJ’S • TRAILERPARK DJ’S • GEM RISSIN • BEARDS • MASH POTATO • CASSANDRA JANE • BEETLEJUICE • FENRIS • BETTER THAN SOME • YOUR MUMS BEST FRIENDS • ELI B • THE LONELY PONIES YOUR ‘OL LADY • MITCH HIP HOP • LAURA & TARNI!

THE RUNAWAYS LAUNCH PARTY

Thank your lucky stars for B-sides. If it weren’t for these discarded gems we wouldn’t be able to give you this one from Brooklyn’s Yeasayer. Released on Record Store Day, the 7″ coloured vinyl, End Blood contains two tracks that didn’t make it onto last year’s amazing full length Odd Blood.

Yeasayer – Swallowing The Decibels (198)

DISCOTEXAS buddies Moullinex and Xinobi have teamed up again to create a lovely piece of improv disco fun. No word on whether or not there will be an official release of this track yet, but if these two keep it up we may get to witness another great dance music collaboration team. Enjoy.

Moullinex & Xinobi – X Marks the Spot by Discotexas

With the release of his next full-length album, Galactic Melt due out on July the 5th, New Jersey-based synth warrior Com Truise is set to release the ‘Fairlight‘ single through new label Ghostly International on May 3. One of those tracks to be featured on the release is ‘Polyhurt.’ A cruising, laser sharp track with a pounding 80′s beat and a driving bass line. Perfect montage music for those late night cruises down a palm lined highway.

Com Truise – Polyhurt (198)

Now you have found something to do on Good Friday Eve.

Stopmakingme has remixed Death From Above 1979 in celebration of their comeback shows/tour of 2011. He has chosen the track ‘Black History Month‘, and although he has done a great job, it’s hard when the track was remixed so well by Braxe/Falke on the ‘Remixes & B-Sides LP‘.

Death From Above 1979 – Black History Month (Stopmakingme Remix) (320)

‘Ragysh‘ is the newest release by Norwegian native Todd Terje. The four track EP is out on Running Back and includes this little number. This track, as it is so suitably titled, is something I would love to wake up with to start my day, every day, in summer.

Todd Terje – Snooze 4 Love (320)

Annie Mac invited local heroes Flight Facilities to record a mini mix for her show. The mix is INCREDIBLY balanced for 5 minutes of disco featuring Daft Punk, Madonna, Aeroplane and Tiga to name a few.

TRACKLISTING:

01. Todd Terje – Eurodans
02. Madonna – Into The Groove (Kolombo Edit)
03. Daft Punk – Face to Face
04. Anthony & The Camp – What I Like
05. Aeroplane – Without Lies (Breakbot Remix)
06. Scott Grooves – Mothership Reconnection (Daft Punk Remix)
07. Holy Ghost! – Wait & See (Flight Facilities Remix)
08. Tiga – Sex O’Clock
09. A Taste Of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie
10. Shit Robot – Simple Things (Todd Terje Remix)
11. John Paul Young – Love Is In The Air

For those in Europe check them out over April!

April 21 – KOKO, London

April 22 – Debaser, Stockholm

April 23 – Debaser, Malmo

April 24 – Club Max, Bressanone

Flight Facilities – Annie Mac Mix (320)

Digitalism are making noise again in anticipation of their follow up record, titled ‘I Love You Dude‘. ‘2 Hearts‘ takes me back to the days ‘Pogo‘ and the cross over indie/electro dance anthems of 2006.

To be honest, it’s not a bad thing, especially when Digitalism do it so well.

Digitalism – 2 Hearts (320)

I doubt I need to explain this, and I won’t.
Metronomy – The Bay (Erol Alkan’s Extended Rework) PREVIEW by Erol Alkan

This superb compilation of the best opening title design for film was recently put together and shared at SXSW. ‘The Art of The Title‘, directed by Ian Albinson and concepted by David Horridge, mixes some great examples including all the James Bond, Fight Club, Forrest Gump, Mad Men, The Social Network and more. If you enjoy movie title design you should watch this.

You may have come across Waylayers on the Kitsuné Maison 10 album released not that long ago. They are three guys from Hackney, East London destined for big things. Their EP ‘Weightless‘ is available for free download from their site… Do yourself a favour and check it out!

Waylayers will be playing Saturday 23rd of April at Koko with YUKSEK BRODINSKI THE KRAYS // UFFIE // JAMES YUILL // HUORATRON// TIGER LOVE // SEXY SUSHI // IS TROPICAL dj

Time: 9pm – 4am… WAYLAYERS @ 10pm

£11
KOKO
1A Camden High St
London, NW1 7JE

Waylayers – Big Machines (256)

You can download this track from our facebook page. Click ‘download’ on the left hand side..!

Lupe Fiasco is one of few hip-hop artists to straddle the hemispheres of both rap and rock; and do it with such flair. So when I first got my hands on Lupe’s long awaited  – and by this I mean almost half a decade – third album, Lasers, I anticipated something more along the lines of “Catch Me” and “And He Gets The Girl”. Lyrics and beats that really epitomize what Lupe is known to do well. Lasers on the other hand, seemed kind of left of field in comparison.

To say Lasers has had a tumultuous beginning would be a great understatement. The album, which was announced beginning of 2009 and set to be released end of year, underwent numerous petitions. In fact a protest over the course of 2010 in urge to garner this years release.

As a whole Lasers definitely carries a more commercial sound. That is not to say that his tracks still don’t rock the same vibe, they just don’t have that old school Lupe magic or lyrical genius. Songs like “Break The Chain” carry undercurrents of house music. Whilst “Words I Never Said” feature new pop artist Skylar Greywho has worked alongside Eminem, Dr. Dre and British producer Alex Da Kid.

However, we should not be so surprised considering this album has been a great source of contention. The ongoing controversy surrounding Lupe’s tedious relationship with Atlantic Records seems to have peaked with the release of Lasers and is a good reason to why this album is just so. “To be honest. I didn’t have nothing to do with that record. That was the label’s record. That wasn’t like I knew the producer or knew the writer or anything like that. That was one of those records the record company gave me, [they even gave me] stuff they wanted me to rap about. It wasn’t like, ‘Hey I did this and I went to a mountain and found inspiration and it was this.” Revealed Lupe in a recent interview with Complex.

His lack of authority over the creative processes is as easily noticeable as his lack of enthusiasm throughout the album. To which later he shared that, “A lot of the songs that are on the album, I’m kinda neutral to. Not that I don’t like them, or that I hate them, it’s just I know the process that went behind it. I know the sneaky business deal that went down behind this song… so when I have that kind of knowledge behind it, I’m just kind of neutral to it like, ‘Another day, another dollar.’ As opposed something like The Cool, which is more of my own blood, sweat, and tears, and my own control.”

To be fair, Lasers is a formulaic album lacking in originality and devoid of soul; scarily showing the influence of major labels over artists and effectively the extinction of creativity. In retrospect this album is an example of Marxism at its worst. Luckily though, there are a few redeeming features such as Lupe’s collaboration withMDMA on “I Don’t Want To Care Right Now” and “Coming Up” which hold there ground and are definitely worth some rotations.

“I Don’t Want To Care Right Now” is reminiscent of Lupe’s older works giving us a taste of what we really are missing out on through his smooth lyricism. “Coming Up” shrugs off the house music to take it back to the basics of piano and synth. Other notable tracks include “Till I Get There” which shares the same simplicity. And even though “Words I Never Said” is complete commercialization, it does maintain some integrity through its demonstration of Lupe’s rock/rap roots. Ultimately this albums biggest success was its ability to drum up so much global support that everyone should at least pay it some respect and listen to it once.

Lupe Fiasco – The Show Goes On (195)

Lupe Fiasco – State Run Radio (195)

It was 20 years ago this year that Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ was released to mass acclaim. Grunge became the de-rigueur sound of every discernible teenager and the alternative music scene was never the same again.  Indie rock bands entered the charts and the homogenization of music began.

Shoegaze was another lesser known genre around during the late 1980s and early 1990s, shadowed by the lengthening popularity of grunge it was a much more introspective and non-confrontational sound, spawned out of the universities of England.  Unlike grunge it failed to gain a foothold in the national consciousness and collapsed under the weight of self-indulgence.  Most bands disbanded in the mid 90s or fell below the radar, but for a brief moment in the history of modern music there was a real excitement around this slightly esoteric, wholly inclusive and proudly adolescent sound.  The term shoegaze was actually labeled because of the way the bands use to look down at their effects pedals while performing, this was not engaged showmanship but it was engaged listenership.  Music was often played through swirling distortion and guitars built layer upon layer of sound to create an amorphous escapism.

Two decades later and the music scene is suffocated by overly produced and career contrived artists, pressured by record labels and tempted by the golden goose.  Enter Ghostwood, jettisoned from a time before Pop Idol and Twitter.  Not exactly.  Formed in 2006 they have been traveling the circuit, offering redemption for anyone who cares to listen.  In the slightly incongruous surroundings of the Beach Road Hotel, Bondi, the band launch through a set of uncompromising, shoe-gaze influenced and very loud alternative guitar music.  It was unapologetically shambolic at times and brazenly louche but this is a band who are channeling the best of that forgotten scene.

‘Robot with clothes on’ vibrated and droned like early Slowdive while early single ‘Red Version’ had a spindly guitar motif reminiscent of Ride. Many songs tonight surged and spiraled with reverb, guitars twisted and buzzed, the sound at times smothered the small, under-resourced venue, this is a band that like to set their dials to 11.  Although much like their shoegaze brethren, there is melody amongst the mayhem.  A pop sensibility hidden underneath the sinew of sound.

To portray Ghostwood as mere shoegaze imitators would do them an injustice.  There are certainly more strings to their bow.  Lead singer, Gabriel, sings with an angst akin to a grungy howl, not the barely audible vocals of a shoegaze band.  Then there are the recent singles, ‘Cutlass’ and ‘Sunset Mirage’, played in quick succession tonight they hint at a more rounded, melodic sound, with the latter resembling Liverpool cosmics, The Coral, all psychedelic pop and galloping rhythm.   Last song ‘Rest My Soul’ finishes with a hazy groove, a slow builder, it swaggers like a youthful Oasis.

Though clearly not the vanguards of the current resurgence for all things reverb, Glasvegas, Deerhunter and The Horrors to name but a few; Ghostwood furrow a distinctive path nonetheless, one that echoes back to the halcyon days of indie/shoegaze, without the distraction of the corporate chart.  This is an unrefined, unrestrained band inviting the listener, like them, to get lost in the sound.

How does Middle Eastern inspired Lemon Grilled Chicken with Dried Fruit CousCous, homemade Pita & Hummus and ‘The Hurt Locker’ sound? Or Arugula and Goat Cheese Ravioli and ‘Revolutionary Road’?

New York based artist Jamie Beck has a stunning photography blog with an enticing little section titled, ‘Dinner & A Movie‘ which includes amazing step by step photographic instructions on some amazing recipes to go with your night time movie.

Check out the rest of her blog to find some more amazing hidden treats, like her animated photography of NYC.

Jamie Beck’s photography blog: From Me To You

It would be very easy to fall into the trap of churning out variations of the same twee-indie-pop if you were a band like Architecture in Helsinki. Via a path of cowbells, glockenspiels and handclaps, the group are one of those blessed local acts that have quietly garnered more popularity internationally than on their home shores. This band, however, tread the rickety quirkiness bridge that could at any time give way, sending them plummeting to the ravines of novelty below.

After disappearing off the radar following the success of their 2007 album ‘Places Like This’, the Melbourne born-and-bred five piece have thankfully dodged that proverbial bullet this time with their latest record. ‘Moment Bends’ sees a shift from tropicana instrumental mayhem to a more mature and polished sound. Exhale.

Recorded over two years in the band’s studio space, Buckingham Palace, songwriter Cameron Bird says “We wanted to build a record to get lost in.” Opening track, ‘Desert Island’, certainly does this, welcoming us into a fantasy world of sand, sun and space. Carefully constructed, it glides along, airy and dreamy like a slow motion childhood memory of carnival rides and ice cream. Possibly the standout song on the album, it’s delicate yet bouncy, featuring swirling vocals and a pan flute breakdown. If I was stranded on a desert island, I’d like this track washing over me.

A palpable disco vibe permeates the record, and glimpses of new wave glitter through. ‘Contact High’ is Architecture in Helsinki at their best. A damn good pop song, it has all the makings of a party starter and revives the lost art of the key change, something that has long been missing from the world of pop.

The band have notably ditched many of the weird and wonderful instruments previously pulled out of their musical toy box for this album, but have still managed to retain their distinct sound, although it is more measured and slick.

‘Escapee’, ‘Denial’ and ‘That Beep’ are excellent – all hooks, synths and harmonies – archetypes of the Architecture In Helsinki we’ve all come to know and love. Other tracks are a bit of a miss. ‘YR Go To’ and ‘I Know Deep Down’ are overly camp and unashamedly emulate excessive 80′s pop (think Prince), reminding me why I can usually only handle the band in small doses. ‘W.O.W’, features the vocals of the only remaining female member, Kellie Sutherland, who cringingly rhymes ‘physical’ with ‘invisible’ and ‘original’ with ‘spiritual’. It’s a terrible clichéd attempt at a ballad that wouldn’t be out of place soundtracking the obligatory romantic scene in a 2002 Disney teen film.

‘Moment Bends‘ doesn’t go everywhere you’d like it to, however and it’s good to see Architecture in Helsinki developing and experimenting with a new sound. Besides a select few tracks, there’s nothing memorable or groundbreaking here, but it’s a whole lot of fun nevertheless.

Architecture In Helsinki – Contact High (320)